Hand brake for railway cars



March 9, 1948 K. WILLIAMS HAND BRAKE FOR RAILWAY CARS.

3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 11, 1945 Inrenlorf. Kai/h l/iZZ ia/ms:

March 9, 1948. K. WILLIAMS HAND B-RAKE FOR RAILWAY CARS Filed July 11, 1945' 3 Sheets-:Sheet 2 Veil 9%:- Mi 5102225:

F A R\\\\\\\\\\\\\ l x mm s M m L m w K HAND BRAKE FOR RAILWAY CARS Filed July 11, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 WC 9 G O C S InVehforf Patented Mar. 9, 1948 NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HAND BRAKE FOR RAILWAY CARS Keith Williams, Buffalo, N. Y.

Application July 11, 1945, Serial No. 604,488

13 Claims. (01. 74-505) This invention relates to improvements in hand brakes for railway cars, and more particularly to improvements in hand brakes 01 the type disclosed in Patent No. 2,160,279, issued May 30, 1939, comprising chain winding means and hand wheel operated actuating mechanism, wherein the actuating mechanism is operatively connected to the winding means for the brake chain by a releasable clutch to permit quick release of the brake without spinning of the hand wheel.

One of the objects of the invention is to adapt this type of brake operating mechanism for use on passenger railway cars by separating the hand wheel from the actuating mechanism and providing a driving connection therebetween which permits the hand wheel to be located on the car independently of the actuating mechanism whereby the actuating mechanism can be located within the walls of the car and the projection of the hand wheel from the face of the car wall will meet the requirements of passenger car construction.

Another object of the invention is to provide means associated with the driving connection between the hand wheel and actuating mechanism for automatically operating the clutch in the unwinding direction of rotation of the hand wheel to quickly release the brakes without spinning the wheel.

A further object is to provide an automatic clutch release which allows several reverse rotations of the hand wheel before actuating the clutch whereby the operator has an effective range of operation of the hand wheel in which to ease off the brakes without completely releasing them.

Other objects of the invention will appear from the following description in connection with the accompanying drawings which illustrate one embodiment of the invention.

Referring to the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of the brake actuating mechanism and hand wheel connec tions therewith, located between the wall members of a car, the wall members bein shown in section;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of said mechanism taken in the direction of the arrow, with the front wall member of the car removed and the hand wheel being indicated in dotted lines to show its relative position;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of the lower portion of the structure shown in Fig. 2, with the chain winding mechanism being shown in section, and the clutch being shown in closed position;

Fig. 4 is a face view of the clutch release segmental gear shown in operating position about to release the clutch; and

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 3, the winding mechanism shown partly in section, and the clutch release means and clutch in open position.

Because of the fact that, in accordance with this invention, the brake chain windin mechanism A is separated from the hand wheel B, the chain winding mechanism is shown as being positioned in the outer wall member I of the passenger car in the lower portion thereof adjacent the floor 2 of the car, and the hand wheel B is shown as located higher up on the car wall in convenient position tor the operator. The end wall of the passenger car is comprised of two vertical members I and 3 spaced apart, and the driving or operating chain connection between the hand wheel and the winding mechanism is located between these wall members. The result is that the hand wheel need not project from the face of the car wall beyondthe maximum permitted in railroad car construction. The chain 4 for operating brakes extends through a suitable opening 5 in the car floor and around an idler pulley 6 beneath the car floor to the brakes.

In a structure of this type, the brake actuating mechanism comprises in general a rotary chain winding member or drum l0, worm wheel or gear II, a worm l2, a. sliding clutch element IS, a clutch spring [4, and a clutch operating lever l5, all mounted within a suitable housing 16 to form a unit which is mounted-in any suitable manner in the wall of the car.

In the present structure, the driving connection between the hand wheel and the chain winding unit, together with the automatic clutch releasing mechanism are all concealed within the two members I and 3 of the end wall of the car.

This driving connection comprises an endless sprocket chain C extending around sprockets H and 18 which are respectively mounted on the worm shaft IQ of the winding mechanism and the hand wheel shaft 20, so that the rotation of the hand wheel B in either direction correspondingly drives the worm shaft I9 to wind the brake chain 4 upon. or unwind it from, the drum Ill.

In Fig. 2, the arrow 20 indicates right-handed direction rotation of the hand wheel for winding up the brake chain to tighten up the brakes, and the arrow 2| indicates left-hand or reverse direction of rotation of the hand wheel for unwinding the chain to release the brakes.

In the present structure, the sprocket chain 3 C drives the worm 12 in the direction corresponding to that in which the hand wheel is rotated, and this worm drives the worm gear H which is splined to the sliding element 13 of 'the clutch. The sliding element of the clutch The sliding element I3 of the clutch is 4 wise, that is, in the direction indicated by the arrow 2| (Fig. 2)

Upon this reverse rotation of the hand wheel for the purpose of unwinding the chain 4 to release the brakes, the reach of the chain C moves downwardly in the direction indicated by the arrow 34, Fig. 3, and the teeth of the gear will engage the chain and start the rotation of the g ar D in the. direction; indicated by the arrow The disc ll) is suitably weighted. at 36 to insure the engagement of the tooth 33 with the chain. Continued movement of the chain rotates the gear 13 carrying the slot 29 with it,

that is, to engage the clutch teeth 222-3, so

that normally the worm wheel and the windingdrum are connected when the hand wheel is rotated to wind up the brake chain and'set the brakes.

The clutch sliding element I3 is shifted to dis engage the clutch teeth and release the drum from the driving worm wheel H bymeans of the lever 15. This lever comprises a forked member which is pivoted at 24 on the housing t6 and which has lugs 25 which engage in the grooved collar 26 positioned at the end of the clutchelemer t 13. Thus by the rotation of the clutch release lever l5 about its pivot, the collar 26 and clutch element [3 are shifted longitudinally to disengage the clutch teeth.

accordance with this invention, there is provided a clutch release mechanism which automatically actuates the clutch release lever I5 upon the reverse or chain unwinding direction of rotation of the hand wheel. This release mechanism in general comprises a rotary disc member D, a segmental toothed member or gear D and a connecting link E between the gear and the clutch release lever Hi. This disc D and gear are positioned between the car wall members I' and 3 adjacent one reach ofthe driving chain C, and are preferably a single casting rotatably mounted upon a shaft 21' which is suitably mountedin the wall members of the car. The segmental toothed gear D is oifset from the face of the disc and the disc margin overlies the chain at one side to serve as a guard to prevent flapping of the chain. The teeth D of the gear are arranged to mesh with the sprocket chain C whereby, when the teeth are in engagement, the chain rotates the'gear D and the disc D, and actuates the connecting link E which is pivotally connected at its lower end 28 to the clutch release lever [5. There is, however, a lost motion connection between the gear D ar d the link E which permits rotation of the gear without actuation of the link. This lost motion connection comprises an arcuate slot 28, in which the upper end 39 of the link is connected to. ride in the slot when the gear rotates.

The operation of the automatic release mechanism is" follows: Assume that the parts are in the relative positions shown more particularly in Figs. 2; and 3, in which condition the brake is fully tightened, the clutch is closed, and the winding drum connected thereby with the driving worm gear. The right-handed rotation f the hand wheel when the brakes were set caused the reach of; the chain (3 adjacent the gear D to travel upward, as indicated by the arrow 3|, and rotated thegear teeth out of mesh with the chain. The chain, however, rides on the cam or projection 3*? adjacent the last tooth 33 of the gear. The operator, desiring to release the brakes, rotates the hand wheel contrac-lockandhence causing no actuation of the link E since the end 30 of this link rides in said slot 29. The parts are so proportioned that as the last. several teeth D on the opposite side of the segment reach the chain, the end D of the slot reaches the end 30 of the link E and the continued rotation of the gear with the last several teeth-D in engagement with the chain pulls upwardly onthe link E and actuates the clutch release leverl5, thereby opening the clutchand allowing the windingdrum and brake chain to run free any amount necessary to completely release the brakes.

This relative position of the parts of the release mechanism, shown in Fig. 5, remains until the operator again wishes to set the brakes, whereupon he turns the-hand wheel in righthanded direction, thus-rotating-the gear D until the last gear tooth 33 rides out of engagement with the chain. At this time, the end 31 of the slot 29 will have reached the end 30 of link E and actuated said link to swing the lever l5 downwardly and allow the spring- M of the clutch to close the clutch. The parts are so proportioned that the hand wheel can be turned in a reverse direction for about two complete revolutions for unwinding the brake chain before-the clutch released, to completely release the brakes. This has two advantages which are important in brake operation. The casing off of the strain of the-brake mechanism inthese two turns of the hand wheel takes the strain off the entire mechanism and enables the release mechanism tofunction efiecttvely. The other advantage is that two turns of the hand wheel gives the operator a considerable margin of operation in easing off the brakes without actually opening the clutchand releasing them in the event that he wishes toagain set upthe brakes.

I claim:

1. In a hand brake mechanism, the combination of brake operating mechanism comprising a brake chain winding drum, a driving mechanismfor the drum, and a clutch for connecting and disconnecting the driving mechanism with said drum; a hand wheel located remotely from said brake operating mechanism, a driving connection between said hand wheel andthe driving mechanism of said brake operating mechanism, and means associated with said driving connection for automatically actuating the clutch to disconnect the drum from the driving mechanism upon thereverse rotation of the hand wheel.

2. In a hand brake mechanism, the combination of brake operating mechanism comprising a brake'chain winding drum, a driving mechanism for the drum, and a clutchfor connecting anddisconnecting the driving mechanism with said drum; 2; hand wheel located remotely from said' brake operating mechanism, an endless driving chain between the hand wheel and said driving mechanism, and means operated bysaidchain for, actuating said clutch upon the reverse or brake releasingrotationoi said hand'wheel a given number of revolutions.

3. In a hand brake mechanism, the combinationof brake operating mechanism comprising a brake chain winding drum, a. driving mechanism for the drum, and a clutch for connecting and disconnecting the driving mechanism with said drum; a hand wheel located remotely from said brake operating mechanism, an endless driving chain between the hand wheel and said driving mechanism, a segmental gear engageable with the chain, and means actuated by said gear to release the clutch upon a given number of turns of the hand wheel.

4. In a hand brake mechanism of the class described, the combination of a brake actuating mechanism comprising a brake chain winding drum, driving means for said drum, and a clutch for connecting or disconnecting the drum with said driving means; a hand wheel located remotely from said brake actuating mechanism, an endless sprocket chain driving connection between the hand wheel and said driving means, and means actuated by said sprocket chain to release the clutch upon a given rotation of said hand wheel in a brake chain unwinding direction.

5. In a hand brake mechanism of the class described, the combination of a brake actuating mechanism comprising a brake chain winding drum, driving means for said drum, and a clutch for connecting or disconnecting the drum with said driving means; a hand wheel located remotely from said brake actuating mechanism, an endless sprocket chain driving connection between the hand wheel and said driving means, a segmental gear adapted to mesh with the sprocket chain and to be rotated thereby in a brake chain unwinding direction of the rotation of the hand wheel, and a lost motion connection between the gear and the clutch, permitting the gear to rotate a given amount before actuating the clutch.

6. In a hand brake mechanism of the class described, the combination of a brake actuating mechanism comprising a brake chain winding drum, driving means for said drum, and a clutch for connecting or disconnecting the drum with said driving means; a hand wheel located remotely from said brake actuating mechanism, an endless sprocket chain driving connection between the hand wheel and said driving means, a segmental gear adapted to mesh with the sprocket chain and to be rotated thereby in a brake chain unwinding direction of the rotation of the hand wheel, said gear having an arcuate slot, a link having one end connected to ride in said slot and the other end connected to the clutch, the ends of the slot being so related to the teeth on said gear as to permit a given rotation of the gear before actuating the link.

7. In a hand brake mechanism, the combination with a rotary chain winding member, of a rotary driving member, a clutch operatively connecting said winding member and said driving member, a manually operated hand wheel located remotely from said driving member, a sprocket chain connecting said hand wheel and driving member for rotating the driving member in reverse directions, and a clutch release device actuated by said sprocket chain.

8. In a hand brake mechanism, the combination with a rotary chain winding member, of a rotary driving member, a clutch operatively con- 6. necting said winding memberzand said. driving member, a manually operated handwheel'located remotely. from said driving member, a sprocket chainconnecting said hand-wheel and driving memberfor rotating the driving memberin reverse directions, a segmental gear positioned adjacent said sprocket chain adapted .to mesh therewith-and to be rotated thereby upon movement of said sprocket chain, andmeans operable upon a predetermined rotation of said gear for actuating the clutch.

9. In a hand brake mechanism, the combination with a rotary chain winding member, of a rotary driving member, a clutch operatively connecting said winding member and said driving member, a manually operated hand wheel located remotely from said driving member. a sprocket chain connecting said hand wheel and driving member for rotating the driving member in reverse directions, a segmental gear positioned adjacent said sprocket chain adapted to mesh therewith and to be rotated thereby upon movement of said sprocket chain, a link connected to said clutch and having a lost motion connection with said gear to permit a predetermined rotation of the gear before actuating the clutch.

10. In a hand brake mechanism, the combination with a rotary chain winding member, of a rotary driving member, a clutch operatively connecting said winding member and said driving member, a manually operated hand wheel located remotely from said driving member, a sprocket chain connecting said hand wheel and driving member for rotating the driving member in reverse directions, a segmental gear positioned adjacent said sprocket chain adapted to mesh therewith and to be rotated thereby upon movement of said sprocket chain, a link connected to said clutch and having a lost motion connection with said gear to permit a predetermined rotation of the gear before actuating the clutch, and weight means on said gear insuring the engagement of the teeth thereof with said sprocket chain.

11. In a hand brake mechanism, the combination with a rotary chain winding member, a driving mechanism therefor comprising a worm gear and worm, and a clutch for connecting said rotary chain winding member with and disconnecting it from said worm gear, a hand wheel for rotating said worm in reverse directions and located at a point remote therefrom, sprockets on said worm and hand wheel, and an endless sprocket chain extending around said sprockets, a segmental gear positioned adjacent said sprocket chain to be rotated out of meshing engagement upon the movement of the chain in one direction and into meshing engagement upon the movement of the chain in the reverse direction, said segmental gear having an arcuate slot in its face, a link member for actuating the clutch and having a sliding connection with said arcuate slot and adapted to be operated to actuate the clutch when the said connection reaches the ends of said slot in the rotation of the segmental gear.

12. In a hand brake mechanism of the class described, the combination of a rotary chain winding member, a rotary driving member, means for rotating said driving member, a clutch operatively connecting said winding member and said driving member, a manually operated hand wheel, means operatively connecting said hand wheel to said means for rotating said driving member for rotating the driving member in reverse directions, and clutch operating means actuated by said connecting means and adapted tooperate the clutch tea-disconnect the driving member from the chain wining member after the 'handwheel has been rotated in a reverse direction through a. given number of revolutions;

13. In a hand. brake mechanism of the-ciass described, the combination of .a rotary chain winding member, a worm and gear, a clutchoperatively connecting said winding member." to-said gear, a. manually operated hand whee means operatively connecting said hand wheel to said worm for rotating the'drivmg member in reverse directions, and clutch operating means actuated by said connecting means adapted to operate the clutch todiseomreet: said gear from said chain winding member after-the hand wheel has been rotated in'a reverse direction.

KEITH WILLIAMS. 

